OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTION TIME

By mustang6560 on 7/13/11

It's time to reveal my prediction of who I think is going to win the 2011 Open Championship at Royal St. George's.

Lee Westwood.

No, seriously. I think this is Lee Westwood's week. From the stories I've read about Royal St. George's, the winner will need to maneuver through the holes with patience because the course is set up to punish bad shots and poor shot making decisions. All of which, Lee says he's ready for.

"(There are) a couple of fairways out there which you can get bad breaks," Westwood said. "At some point during the week, you're going to need patience -- it's going to be tested. But I've got plenty of that.

"It's mentally frustrating out there. I think that's why people either like or dislike it. I like the golf course ... it makes you think constantly and adapt to the situation."

Links golf is a completely different style of golf and according to Jack Nicklaus, there is even a difference between links style golf in Scotland and England. The Golden Bear supposedly said "The Open venues get worse the farther south you go". Royal St. George's features a combination of blind shots, and almost unhittable fairways - plus don't forget about the wind - which will surely a challenge for the best golfers in the world!

Lee is British, but more importantly he's English so if anyone is accustomed to English-style links courses it's him. And he has a very good track record at the Open Championship. He has two top 5s in the last two years, finishing 2nd last year and T3 in 2009.

The final reason I think he's going to win is because I think he's tired of being "the best player without a major championship." Despite the fact he says if he never wins a major he'll be OK, I truly believe it pisses him off. I think he will use that as motivation to help propel him to victory. And, with Tiger Woods not playing, it's anyone's tournament to win!

Who do you think is going to win?



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photo by Eugene Goh

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